Knowledgebase
Problem growing Swiss Chard #870243
Asked May 27, 2024, 10:26 AM EDT
Chittenden County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Larry,
It looks like you've got some leaf miners there. I'll share some suggestions of how to deal with it and some resources for further reading if you'd like.
Basically, a leaf miner is an insect that lays eggs on the bottom side of the leaves of certain leafy vegetables and some of the weeds that grow in this region. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the leaf and create the "mines" as they feed. Eventually they drop into the soil and become pupae and develop into the adult insect and the life cycle continues. There can be up to 3 or 4 generations during a season and will overwinter in the soil. But, all is not lost!
Go ahead and cut off and destroy the damaged leaves. You may yet get some healthy growth out of the plant. If you see further damage develop as the season goes, repeat that process as soon as you spot the eggs, insects, or the beginnings of leaf damage. If you leave the plants this year, you can just peel off the damaged leaves and let the rest of the plant keep growing. It'll keep growing from the middle and then you can harvest any undamaged leaves from the outside in. Always letting the new growth size up a little rather than harvesting by cutting an entire plant.
For next year, you can till up the soil to destroy anything in there before planting and plant your leafy vegetables in a spot far away from this area if you can. Gradually working in a good crop rotation. Then use a row cover so that the insects can't access the veggies to lay eggs and that will disrupt the population developing.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/spinach-leafminer-and-sowbug-damage/
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/leafminers
I hope this helps!
Best in your chard growing!
Thank you, Ruth-Ellen, for such a thorough and impressive response to my question! I haven’t gone through all the information you sent me; once I have I may reach out to you with additional questions.
Larry Mindell
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2024 7:44 PM
To: Larry Mindell <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Problem growing Swiss Chard (#0140163)
Hi Larry!
No problem! I'll go ahead and close this question and will be happy to answer any others if you decide to reopen it. You can do so by responding in this thread. Or you can create a new question and have another gardener's input.
Happy to help and hope all goes well!
Best to you,
